Jesus and the Gentiles

[B-A-C]

When Jesus was walking around on the Earth, He didn't deal a lot with Gentiles.

In fact, for the most part really only two women.

Matt 15:22; And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed."

The same passage in Mark describes her slightly differently.

Mark 7:26; Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.

Then there was also the Samaritan woman.

John 4:7; There *came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus *said to her, "Give Me a drink."

Some believe that's the end of Jesus's involvement with Gentiles. But of course we have the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2 and 3.

We know it's Jesus speaking in these passages because chapter 1 ends describing who is speaking.

Rev 1:10; I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet,
Rev 1:11; saying, "Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."
Rev 1:12; Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands;
Rev 1:13; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.
Rev 1:14; His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.
Rev 1:15; His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.
Rev 1:16; In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.
Rev 1:17; When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,
Rev 1:18; and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
Rev 1:19; "Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.
Rev 1:20; "As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

John describes this person as like "a son of man". (Jesus called Himself that more than any other name)
He has a sharp two edged sword coming out of His mouth. Just like the "King of Kings" and "Lord of Lords" in Rev 19:11-21;
He was dead, but is alive evermore. He has the keys of death and Hades. - who could this be besides Jesus? Most modern red-letter Bible's put all of Revelation
chapters 2 and 3 in red-letters because of this. Anyway the point of all that is to say Jesus addressed the Gentile churches in Revelation 2 and 3.

Ephesus is the same area that Paul (the apostle to the Gentiles) wrote the book of Ephesians to.
Smyrna, Thyatira, Pergamum, Sardis, Philadephia, and Laodicea were all cities in modern day Turkey. It seems whatever Jesus said to these churches would apply to Gentiles today.

 

[B-A-C]

Matt 4:13; and leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali.
Matt 4:14; This was to fulfill what was spoken through Isaiah the prophet:
Matt 4:15; "THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES—
Matt 4:16; "THE PEOPLE WHO WERE SITTING IN DARKNESS SAW A GREAT LIGHT, AND THOSE WHO WERE SITTING IN THE LAND AND SHADOW OF DEATH, UPON THEM A LIGHT DAWNED."
Matt 4:17; From that time Jesus began to preach and say, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand."

Now Capernaum could be considered Jewish area, however verse 15 above specifically says... "Galilee of the... 'Gentiles' ". .. and Jesus told these Gentiles to repent.

 

[B-A-C]

We also know Jesus healed 10 lepers, one of them was a Samaritan.

Luke 17:14; When He saw them, He said to them, "Go and show yourselves to the priests." And as they were going, they were cleansed.
Luke 17:15; Now one of them, when he saw that he had been healed, turned back, glorifying God with a loud voice,
Luke 17:16; and he fell on his face at His feet, giving thanks to Him. And he was a Samaritan.
Luke 17:17; Then Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But the nine—where are they?

 

[B-A-C]

Jesus also told the story of "the good Samaritan in Luke 10:30-37;

Ok... but did Jesus deal with any other Gentiles?

In Luke 13:31-32; Jesus has a message for Herod ( a Gentile from Rome ).

 

[B-A-C]

Let us not forget the 7 churches in Revelations chapters 2 and 3. These are all Gentile churches.
In Revelation 1, it tells us who is speaking to these churches.

Rev 1:17; When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,
Rev 1:18; and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.

This can only be one person. Jesus. Red letter Bibles have all of chapters 2 and 3 in red.

Rev 2:1; "To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this:
Rev 2:8; "And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write: The first and the last, who was dead, and has come to life, says this:
Rev 2:12; "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword says this:
Rev 2:18; "And to the angel of the church in Thyatira write: The Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet are like burnished bronze, says this:
Rev 3:1; "To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: 'I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead.
Rev 3:7; "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
Rev 3:14; "To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God, says this:

Now Revelation was written after Jesus was resurrected and ascended back into heaven, but even so... He is still speaking to the Gentiles here.

 

[Trevor]

When Jesus was walking around on the Earth, He didn't deal a lot with Gentiles.

In fact, for the most part really only two women.

Matt 15:22; And a Canaanite woman from that region came out and began to cry out, saying, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is cruelly demon-possessed."

The same passage in Mark describes her slightly differently.

Mark 7:26; Now the woman was a Gentile, of the Syrophoenician race. And she kept asking Him to cast the demon out of her daughter.

Then there was also the Samaritan woman.

John 4:7; There *came a woman of Samaria to draw water. Jesus *said to her, "Give Me a drink."

Some believe that's the end of Jesus's involvement with Gentiles. But of course we have the seven churches of Asia in Revelation 2 and 3.

We know it's Jesus speaking in these passages because chapter 1 ends describing who is speaking.

Rev 1:10; I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and I heard behind me a loud voice like the sound of a trumpet,
Rev 1:11; saying, "Write in a book what you see, and send it to the seven churches: to Ephesus and to Smyrna and to Pergamum and to Thyatira and to Sardis and to Philadelphia and to Laodicea."
Rev 1:12; Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking with me. And having turned I saw seven golden lampstands;
Rev 1:13; and in the middle of the lampstands I saw one like a son of man, clothed in a robe reaching to the feet, and girded across His chest with a golden sash.
Rev 1:14; His head and His hair were white like white wool, like snow; and His eyes were like a flame of fire.
Rev 1:15; His feet were like burnished bronze, when it has been made to glow in a furnace, and His voice was like the sound of many waters.
Rev 1:16; In His right hand He held seven stars, and out of His mouth came a sharp two-edged sword; and His face was like the sun shining in its strength.
Rev 1:17; When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, "Do not be afraid; I am the first and the last,
Rev 1:18; and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
Rev 1:19; "Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things which will take place after these things.
Rev 1:20; "As for the mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstands: the seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands are the seven churches.

John describes this person as like "a son of man". (Jesus called Himself that more than any other name)
He has a sharp two edged sword coming out of His mouth. Just like the "King of Kings" and "Lord of Lords" in Rev 19:11-21;
He was dead, but is alive evermore. He has the keys of death and Hades. - who could this be besides Jesus? Most modern red-letter Bible's put all of Revelation
chapters 2 and 3 in red-letters because of this. Anyway the point of all that is to say Jesus addressed the Gentile churches in Revelation 2 and 3.

Ephesus is the same area that Paul (the apostle to the Gentiles) wrote the book of Ephesians to.
Smyrna, Thyatira, Pergamum, Sardis, Philadephia, and Laodicea were all cities in modern day Turkey. It seems whatever Jesus said to these churches would apply to Gentiles today.

I thought there was a Roman soldier whose daughter was ill, and he told Jesus not to come round to his house , he only needed to give the order and it would be done. I believe Jesus commented on his faith.

 

[B-A-C]

I thought there was a Roman soldier whose daughter was ill,

Yes... I had thought I already had this one, but I don't see it. Thanks. This story is also in Luke 7:1-10;

Matt 8:5; And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him,
Matt 8:6; and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented."
Matt 8:7; Jesus *said to him, "I will come and heal him."
Matt 8:8; But the centurion said, "Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Matt 8:9; "For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it."
Matt 8:10; Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, "Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.
Matt 8:11; "I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven;
Matt 8:12; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matt 8:13; And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed that very moment.

It seems Jesus making a greater prophecy about Gentiles here as well. He mentions a table in the kingdom of heaven. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will be there. ( Jewish Patriarchs)
but many Jews will be "cast out" ... and "many will come from the east and the west" (Gentiles) and eat at the table here. Yet another place where people in "the kingdom" will be cast out.

The story in Luke 7 doesn't mention the Jews being cast out of the kingdom, and the Gentiles being included.

 

[Trevor]

Yes... I had thought I already had this one, but I don't see it. Thanks. This story is also in Luke 7:1-10;

Matt 8:5; And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him,
Matt 8:6; and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented."
Matt 8:7; Jesus *said to him, "I will come and heal him."
Matt 8:8; But the centurion said, "Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Matt 8:9; "For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it."
Matt 8:10; Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, "Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.
Matt 8:11; "I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven;
Matt 8:12; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matt 8:13; And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed that very moment.

It seems Jesus making a greater prophecy about Gentiles here as well. He mentions a table in the kingdom of heaven. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will be there. ( Jewish Patriarchs)
but many Jews will be "cast out" ... and "many will come from the east and the west" (Gentiles) and eat at the table here. Yet another place where people in "the kingdom" will be cast out.

The story in Luke 7 doesn't mention the Jews being cast out of the kingdom, and the Gentiles being included.
[/QUOTE

Yes... I had thought I already had this one, but I don't see it. Thanks. This story is also in Luke 7:1-10;

Matt 8:5; And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him,
Matt 8:6; and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented."
Matt 8:7; Jesus *said to him, "I will come and heal him."
Matt 8:8; But the centurion said, "Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Matt 8:9; "For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it."
Matt 8:10; Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, "Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.
Matt 8:11; "I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven;
Matt 8:12; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matt 8:13; And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed that very moment.

It seems Jesus making a greater prophecy about Gentiles here as well. He mentions a table in the kingdom of heaven. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will be there. ( Jewish Patriarchs)
but many Jews will be "cast out" ... and "many will come from the east and the west" (Gentiles) and eat at the table here. Yet another place where people in "the kingdom" will be cast out.

The story in Luke 7 doesn't mention the Jews being cast out of the kingdom, and the Gentiles being included.

 

[Trevor]

Yes... I had thought I already had this one, but I don't see it. Thanks. This story is also in Luke 7:1-10;

Matt 8:5; And when Jesus entered Capernaum, a centurion came to Him, imploring Him,
Matt 8:6; and saying, "Lord, my servant is lying paralyzed at home, fearfully tormented."
Matt 8:7; Jesus *said to him, "I will come and heal him."
Matt 8:8; But the centurion said, "Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.
Matt 8:9; "For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to this one, 'Go!' and he goes, and to another, 'Come!' and he comes, and to my slave, 'Do this!' and he does it."
Matt 8:10; Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, "Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.
Matt 8:11; "I say to you that many will come from east and west, and recline at the table with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven;
Matt 8:12; but the sons of the kingdom will be cast out into the outer darkness; in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth."
Matt 8:13; And Jesus said to the centurion, "Go; it shall be done for you as you have believed." And the servant was healed that very moment.

It seems Jesus making a greater prophecy about Gentiles here as well. He mentions a table in the kingdom of heaven. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob will be there. ( Jewish Patriarchs)
but many Jews will be "cast out" ... and "many will come from the east and the west" (Gentiles) and eat at the table here. Yet another place where people in "the kingdom" will be cast out.

The story in Luke 7 doesn't mention the Jews being cast out of the kingdom, and the Gentiles being included.

 

[Hekuran]

A part of Jesus' ministry that we overlook a little now is his work as a prophet giving Israel its final, final chance to repent, turn back to God and to live out it's calling to be a blessing to the nations. It reaches its climax with Jesus driving the moneychangers from the temple. They didn't listen of course, so faced judgement in the form of the destruction of the Temple a few decades later.

That's why Jesus avoided preaching to the nations.